I have family members and friends who have experienced devastating loss.

Loss is not easy.

Significant and devastating loss usually becomes a life-changing divider; there’s life before loss and life after loss. Whether there’s a job, health, financial, or relational loss, whether there is divorce or death, whether it seems minuscule in comparison to what others have lost, loss is not easy.

But.

And, it’s a big but.

There’s a gift within loss.

It’s a choice to receive the gift.

The gift?

The presence of God, who never leaves and will never fail to comfort, empower, and lead you and I through the darkest and most difficult of times, gives us more than can be described.

And, let’s be honest, there are people who may initially be present in the beginning of loss who will disappear. There are multiple reasons for people leaving our life, but loss changes everything, including our relationships.

So.

It’s vital to know God will always be present and at work. Always.

And.

It’s an amazing experience to receive God’s comfort and guidance to get through it all. There’s much more to understanding loss; however, accepting the gift of God’s presence is crucial.

It’s God who gives the life-energy to climb out of the pit of loss, the strength to refuse bitterness to rule the mind and heart, and the hope to discover what comes after loss.

Even though, it does not make sense, those who experience loss are the blessed. Jesus said it this way,

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,[a]for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:3, NLT).

So, for today, whether you are personally going through loss or have the opportunity to reach out to someone who is experiencing loss . . . receive the gift of the presence of God, who will never leave or fail you . . . before or after.

It matters—Kerrie

Elizabeth Hope was born after loss . . . her name means Abundant Hope . . . August 26, 2014

You are invited to my last Sunday at South Salem Nazarene:

Sunday, August 31 at 10:45 AM

South Salem Nazarene Church 1661 Boone Rd SE Salem, OR 97306

(Go south on Commercial and turn left before it intersects on Kuebler at Arby’s on Boone Road. From I5 south, take the Kuebler exit, turn right and turn right on Stroh (third right after exit), left on Boone Rd.)